Noida on high as liquor sales rake in Rs 260 crore

The UP Government had earned an excise duty of Rs 177 crore through liquor sales till December 20 from Noida alone. And, with the festive season round the corner, excise officials here expect the revenue to cross Rs 200 crore.

“If you remove the tax component, Noida residents shelled out Rs 260 crore till today on liquor,” said an official of the exercise department. When compared to previous years, liquor sales increased by almost 30% this year.

According to data available, city residents emptied over two crore bottles of country-made liquor, Indian made foreign liquor (IMFL) and other alcoholic drinks.

District excise officer Jainendra Upadhyaya told HT: “The total collection from liquor sale till December 20 was Rs 177 crore. It may exceed Rs 200 crore by December-end. Even the sale of high-end liquor brands have increased by over 40% as compared to last year.”

The official said the consumption pattern in rural areas has undergone a sea change and it is reflecting on the sale of IMFL.

“Farmers — who got hefty compensation from the government against their land acquired for development — prefer IMFL to country-made liquor,” said Karunendra Singh, excise inspector.

“If you compare the period between April and November with corresponding period last year, there has been a marginal rise of 3% in the sale of desi liquor, while the sale of IMFL shot up to 15.50% and beer 26.93%,” said Upadhyaya.

According to the excise department, the IMFL consumption was the highest in November (4.91 lakh bottles), while April recorded the lowest (2.61 lakh bottles).

The summer months saw beer sales shooting up and in May, 9.59 lakh bottles were sold.